I wholeheartedly concur with what you have to say, but let me add a bit of irony, if I may.
I live in a Spanish-speaking country where there are a lot of American ex-pats. Most would absolutely echo your sentiments about learning English while residing in the U.S. But a majority of those, – the ones who are the most vociferous in their condemnation of “wetbacks” who don’t speak or attempt to learn English, – are the very same gringos living here, who make absolutely no effort to learn Spanish ! They don’t interact with the locals. They live and hang out in enclaves of fellow English speakers – because that is where they are the most comfortable. They don’t assimilate but instead try to recreate what they had back in the States and complain loudly because " It’s not the same !"
Folks need to stop conflating the US illegal immigrant problem with people who want to be “citizens”.Most of the people in the US illegal do NOT want to be citizens. They just want a job so they can earn a little pocket change and feed their families. They have no intention of ever learning English because they have no intention of staying.Ironically, recent efforts to “control” illegals has made it so that more of them actually do stay a long time. They used to sneak in, do some work, then sneak back home. Then sneak in again when they needed work again. Nowadays, sneaking in is so difficult, once they’re here, they just stay put.But even though they’re staying put, they still don’t particularly care to become citizens.Bottom line, we need to stop waving “citizenship” around in arguments about illegal immigration. For most of them, it is totally irrelevant.
Oh come on now, do really expect the people that want to live in the USA to actually learn the English language
Well… yes I do!
Most of my relatives came from Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Ireland; and all of them learned to speak clear and concise English! It can be done, and I’m sick and tired of English being treated as a second language in the USA!
PICTO almost 9 years ago
Just press erozay.
pschearer Premium Member almost 9 years ago
OL-Lay.
neverenoughgold almost 9 years ago
Remember when you called a business in the USA and a real body with blood cursing through their veins actually answered the phone?
In English…
route66paul almost 9 years ago
could you imagine a company paying an American that speaks English a living wage to answer phones?
Linguist almost 9 years ago
I wholeheartedly concur with what you have to say, but let me add a bit of irony, if I may.
I live in a Spanish-speaking country where there are a lot of American ex-pats. Most would absolutely echo your sentiments about learning English while residing in the U.S. But a majority of those, – the ones who are the most vociferous in their condemnation of “wetbacks” who don’t speak or attempt to learn English, – are the very same gringos living here, who make absolutely no effort to learn Spanish ! They don’t interact with the locals. They live and hang out in enclaves of fellow English speakers – because that is where they are the most comfortable. They don’t assimilate but instead try to recreate what they had back in the States and complain loudly because " It’s not the same !"
Sound familiar ?
Phatts almost 9 years ago
Folks need to stop conflating the US illegal immigrant problem with people who want to be “citizens”.Most of the people in the US illegal do NOT want to be citizens. They just want a job so they can earn a little pocket change and feed their families. They have no intention of ever learning English because they have no intention of staying.Ironically, recent efforts to “control” illegals has made it so that more of them actually do stay a long time. They used to sneak in, do some work, then sneak back home. Then sneak in again when they needed work again. Nowadays, sneaking in is so difficult, once they’re here, they just stay put.But even though they’re staying put, they still don’t particularly care to become citizens.Bottom line, we need to stop waving “citizenship” around in arguments about illegal immigration. For most of them, it is totally irrelevant.
neverenoughgold almost 9 years ago
Oh come on now, do really expect the people that want to live in the USA to actually learn the English language
Well… yes I do!
Most of my relatives came from Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Ireland; and all of them learned to speak clear and concise English! It can be done, and I’m sick and tired of English being treated as a second language in the USA!
neverenoughgold almost 9 years ago
Sorry if I came down a bit hard on you; this is a very sensitive topic for me and it appears now, for you as well!
My wife is also part Native American…